Red-cheeked Salamander

Red-cheeked Salamander

Plethodon jordani

Silhouette: Beth Reinke · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
885 Verified sightings at Great Smoky Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
885 Verified sightings across 1 park From 2019 to 2026
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Red-cheeked Salamander

The red-cheeked salamander (Plethodon jordani), also known as the Jordan's salamander, Jordan's redcheek salamander, or Appalachian woodland salamander, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern United States.

The red-cheeked salamander is a uniform steely grey colour with conspicuous red, orange or yellow patches on the side of the head. The imitator salamander (Desmognathus imitator) is thought to be a mimic and is very similar in appearance but has a pale line joining jaw to eye and more robust hind legs.

The red-cheeked salamander is found in mountainous areas of the southeastern United States. The main populations are along the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, but separate populations occur in Rabun County, Georgia. The altitude range is 210 to 1950 metres (700 to 6400 ft), but a few specimens are found below 600 metres (2,000 ft). Almost the whole altitude range occurs within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The red-cheeked salamander is a terrestrial species and is found in both hardwood and coniferous forests, particularly... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Southern Red-backed Salamander
LC Endemic

Southern Red-backed Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Plethodon serratus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Northern Slimy Salamander
LC Endemic

Northern Slimy Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Plethodon glutinosus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Southern Gray-cheeked Salamander
LC Endemic

Southern Gray-cheeked Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Plethodon metcalfi

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Southern Appalachian Salamander
LC Endemic

Southern Appalachian Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Plethodon teyahalee

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Southern Zigzag Salamander
LC Endemic

Southern Zigzag Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Plethodon ventralis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
White-spotted Slimy Salamander
LC Endemic

White-spotted Slimy Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Plethodon cylindraceus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Northern Gray-cheeked Salamander
LC Endemic

Northern Gray-cheeked Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Plethodon montanus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Tellico Salamander
Endemic

Tellico Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Plethodon aureolus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander
LC Endemic

Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Eurycea wilderae

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Spring Salamander
LC

Spring Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Seal Salamander
LC

Seal Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Desmognathus monticola

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Imitator Salamander
NT Endemic

Imitator Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Desmognathus imitator

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~50%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Red-cheeked Salamander in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Red-cheeked Salamander sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, based on 885 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Red-cheeked Salamander in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Red-cheeked Salamander in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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